Monthly Archives: May 2014

Muan Nakazato: Tea bowl, E-karatsu type, Shoe-shaped design

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Muan Nakazato   中里 無庵

1895 Born in karatsu, Saga. The second son of Taroemon Nakazato ⅩⅠ.
1914 Began ceramics under his father. Started researching old Karatsu from Momoyama period.
1927 Succession to the name. Became Taroemon Nakazato ⅩⅡ.
1966 Received a Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1969 Received the Order of the sacred treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
1969 Handed the reigns of the family over to the first son. Named himself as Muan.
1976 Designated a Living National Treasure.
1985 Passed away at the age of 89.

Toyozo Arakawa: Tea bowl, Kiseto type, 'Fallen leaves'

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Toyozo Arakawa 荒川 豊蔵

1894 Born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture.
1922 Moved to Kyoto. Met Rosanjin Kitaoji.
1927 Moved to Kamakura. Worked at Rosanjin’s Hoshigaoka Kiln.
1933 Quit Hoshigaoka Kiln. Moved to Mutabora in Mino Ogaya, Gifu prefecture, and built his studio.
1941 The first solo exhibition held at Umeda Hankyu department store. (Curated by Ginza Kuroda Touen)
1946 Built Suigetsu kiln in Tajimi.
1955 Designated the Living national treasure.
1971 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1977 Published a collection of essays.
1985 Passed away at the age of 91.

Tokuro Kato: Tea bowl, Shino type

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Tokuro Kato 加藤　唐九郎

1898 Born in Seto, Aichi prefecture.
1914 Began involving with ceramic industry.
1933 Published an essay, ‘Kiseto’.
1934 Published ‘Ceramics dictionary’
1935 Moved to Nagoya, Aichi.
1950 Solo exhibition ‘Seto-guro tea bowls’ at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1954 Joined Tori-kai.
1955 Organized Nihon Kogei Kai’ (the Japan Art Crafts Association.) with Toyozo Arakawa and Munemaro Ishiguro.
1960 ‘Einin no tsubo’ scandal
1964 Solo exhibition – Commemoration of Tokyo Olympics-
1972 Published ‘Genshoku ceramic dictionary’.
1982 The last solo exhibition ‘The world of Tokuro Kato’.
1985 Passed away at the age of 87.

Kenkichi Tomimoto: Square bottle, porcelain, overglaze enamels

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Kenkichi Tomimoto　富本 憲吉

1886 Born in Ando village, Nara prefecture. 
1904 Entered the design course at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1908 Studied architecture and interior decoration in England.
1910 Returned to Japan. 
         Began woodprint and other fine arts.
1913 Began Raku ware influenced by Bernard Leach.
1919 Began white porcelain.
1926 Involved with Mingei movement with Shoji Hamada and 
         Kanjiro Kawai.
1927 Moved to Soshigaya, Tokyo.
1935 Became a professor at Musashino Art University.
1944 became a professor at Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1946 Resigned his position. Moved to Kyoto.
1948 Solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen. 
1949 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘Kenkichi Tomimoto- Ceramic Plaque Exhibition’
1950 Became a professor at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
1955 Designated the first Living National Treasure.
1961 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1963 Became a president at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
         Passed away at the age of 77.

Munemaro Ishiguro: Tea bowl, black glaze, leaf design

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Munemaro Ishiguro  石黒宗麿
1893 Born in Shinminato, Toyama prefecture.
1918 Impressed by the National treasure, Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl. 
         Aspired to be a ceramist.
1919 Began ceramics in Tokyo. Moved around Japan several times.
1927 Moved to Higashiyama Jagadani, Kyoto prefecture.
         Met Fujio Koyama, who would become a sworn friend afterwards.
1935 Built a studio in Yase Rakuhoku, Kyoto.
1937 Won a Silver prize at the Paris Universal Exposition.
1941 The first exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen.
1955 Designated as a Living National Treasure.
         Organized ‘Nihon Kogei Kai’ (the Japan Art Crafts Association) with 
         Toyozo Arakawa and Tokuro Kato.
1963 Received Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1968 Passed away at the age of 75.

Kyuwa Miwa: Sake cup, Hagi type

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Kyuwa Miwa　 三輪 休和

1896 Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi prefecture. The second son of Setsudo Miwa Ⅸ.
1910 Began ceramics as family business.
1927 Succeeded to the name of Kyusetsu Ⅹ.
1942 Associated with Handeishi Kawakita.
1967 Handed the reigns of the family over to the younger brother, Setsuo. 
         Named himself as Kyuwa.
1970 Designated as a Living National Treasure.
1977 Passed away at the age of 86.

Mineo Okabe: Sake cup, Ash glaze type

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Mineo Okabe　　岡部 嶺男

1919 Born in Seto, Aichi prefecture.
1937 Graduated from Seto Ceramic High School.
1938 Entered into Tokyo University of Science. 
1940 Dropped out from the university. Entered into the army of inner Mongolia. 
1947 Demobilization from the army. Settled in Hiradobashi, Aichi. (current Toyota city)
1949 Independently began ceramics in Hiradobashi. Married to Tatsuko.
1955 Received the award of the Japanese Ceramics Society at the first time.
1963 Started focusing on researching celadon. Moved to Nisshin, Aichi.
1965 Succeeded in producing ‘Funseiji’ (粉青瓷) Powdery Celadon.　Received a Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1969 Dedication of a set of Celadon vases to Umenoma room of Imperial Household Agency.
1970 Succeeded in producing Yohen Beishokuji. (窯変米色瓷)
1978 Hospitalization by cerebral hemorrhage. Changed his sir name from Kato to Okabe.
1989 Exhibition of new works from recovery at Matsuzakaya department store in Nagoya.
1990 Passed away at the age of 70. 
2011 Retrospective exhibition [Destiny] at Ginza Kuroda Touen.